Once you know which class of license you require, you also need to decide on the additional CDL endorsements you’ll need. These depend on factors such as how many passengers you’ll be carrying and what type of load you’ll be transporting.

Once you’ve got a basic understanding of the class of CDL required and the CDL endorsements required, you should contact your local Department of Transportation or Department of Motor Vehicles.

My best advice is to talk to some owner-operators. Some of the leasing programs are not all they’re made out to be and if you’re not careful you can wind up getting burned pretty badly. They’re not all that way of course, but you have to be careful.

Sean, that will vary from company to company and even from driver to driver within the same company. It also varies depending on whether you’re driving regionally, locally or OTR. Best bet is to check with some drivers at the company you’re applying to.

I’m single and 29 years old with no kids. If I wasn’t renting an apartment, the only bills I would have would be car payment, insurance payment and some kind of internet connection. How much could a new driver save each month? I guess what I’m asking is how expensive is it to live on the road? What I want to do is drive for a couple of years and try to save up about 15 or 20 thousand dollars.

It can be somewhat expensive to live on out on the road, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things you can do to save money, even while you’re driving. If you don’t have any other bills, you can probably save that much in 2 or maybe 3 years, or maybe even less, depending on how much you start out making and if there are any sign on bonuses or things like that. Good luck to you!

Hi Theresa,
That’s a great question. Sometimes there is a discount offered. You’ll want to do some shopping around to see if you can find a driver training program in your area that will give you a price break for two people taking the training. Don’t forget to check with the trucking companies as well. Good luck!